Helping Hands: Zoe Hensley strives to give back

Friday

Dec 13, 2013 at 1:57 PM

Zoe Hensley, 9, is the Person of the Week

Mattie Cookmattie.cook@sentinel-standard.com

When Zoe Hensley was 7, she approached her parents with the idea of starting a food drive to help members of the community. Little did they know that Zoe would keep them busy throughout the next two years with planning and organizing a variety of drives.
Zoe has continued her community efforts through Helping Hands, the name she has given to her charitable endeavors.
“Last year she had Zoe's Winter Drive, which was awesome and brought in a lot of coats and hats and gloves, but then this year, she wanted to focus on just coats, so she called it Zoe's Coat Drive. We want this to be all her; she makes her own posters and they have her writing on them. They're her thoughts and her ideas,” said Zoe's mom, Mindy Hensley.
Zoe, along with her brothers Zakk and Zane, and her sister Zaylee, strives to give back to the community of Ionia.
“We try to teach our kids about giving back. We say to them, 'We don't have a lot, but we don't need a lot. We have what we need.' We take what we don't need and use it to bless others. I'm so proud of all of my kids and what they do and accomplish. We pray that they will bless others,” Mindy Hensley said.
Zoe has become known throughout the Ionia area for the various drives she has hosted throughout the past two years, and according to Mindy Hensley, people continuously ask what Zoe will be doing next.
“I think it's awesome that as a 9-year-old, people are looking at her and knowing that she'll find a place for these items,” Mindy Hensley said.
Zoe's Helping Hands partnered with Straight Street over the summer to offer a free clothing store, and then again this past week to give away items from the coat drive.
Hats, gloves, scarves, coats and more were on display at Straight Street, as well as at her parents' business, Sozo's Coffee Roasting and Espresso Bar, for people to take as needed.
“Since it was downtown and had windows, people could look in and see everything at Straight Street. We also had a jar out at Sozo's for people to donate,” Mindy Hensley said.
For Mindy Hensley, it is hard to determine if Zoe is able to understand the full impact of her community efforts.
“When we were at Straight Street, we were there for two hours. We had a few people come in, but still had a lot leftover. Zoe said to me, 'Mom, we still have so much stuff and not enough people,' but before she came, CMH (Community Mental Health) and RAVE (Relief Against Violent Encounters) came and got things. It's hard to know if she can understand how much she's helping when she isn't there to see everyone who comes in and gets things,” Mindy Hensley said.
Zoe and her parents, Rodney and Mindy Hensley, brought 10 boxes filled with winter gear, such as coats and mittens, to Straight Street, and now are down to three.
In addition to donations, Zoe received a $100 gift card from Meijer of Ionia to assist her with the coat drive.
“Meijer blessed her with a $100 gift card. It was so cool for her to see herself being supported in the community. We go to Meijer a lot, and to have them give back to her was really cool,” Mindy Hensley said.
Zoe and her siblings also used their own money to buy winter gear for students at their school.
“Our sons, Zakk and Zane, make money with dog treats and Zoe wants a way to make money so she thought about making cat treats, but she wants all of the money to go back into the Helping Hands fund. She can't comprehend that it's ok to spend a little bit of money on herself,” said Mindy Hensley.
During the coat drive, Zoe discovered a need in the community for boots, and after telling her parents, the family went to Goodwill to purchase boots for the drive.
“She's thinking now that next year she'll ask for boots,” said Mindy Hensley.
Zoe has found a way to use her strengths in organization and management to implement drives across the community for years. These drives have impacted countless individuals throughout the Ionia area.
“We try to teach her about the importance of giving back and even though she may not realize exactly how many lives she's touched, we know that she has been blessed,” Mindy Hensley said.
Follow Mattie Cook on Twitter @ISSMattie.